Workflow adaptation using automated model transformation

Abstract

Various embodiments of systems and methods for adapting a reference workflow, according to changing data-contexts, during execution are described herein. The method involves detecting an entry to an adaptive segment in the reference workflow and invoking data context variables associated with the adaptive segment. Further the method includes invoking a set of ordered adaptation rules comprising a set of constraints on the data context variables. In an aspect, the method includes evaluating the rule-set using the one or more data context variables associated with the workflow. Based on the evaluation, a list of adaptation patterns is generated and provided as input to a pattern selector. In another aspect, adaptation patterns from the list of adaptation patterns are recursively called by the pattern selector. The called adaptation patterns are then executed as sub-processes within the adaptive segment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of dynamically adapting a reference workflow according to changing data-context variables during execution of the reference workflow, the method comprising:
 detecting an entry to an adaptive segment in the reference workflow;   invoking data context variables associated with the adaptive segment;   invoking a decision table comprising one or more constraints, on the data context variables, mapped to one or more adaptation patterns;   determining that at least one of the one or more constraints in the decision table are met by the data-context variables and selecting the adaptation patterns mapped to the at least one of the one or more constraints;   providing a list of the selected adaptation patterns as input to a pattern selector; recursively calling, by the pattern selector, adaptation patterns from the list of adaptation patterns; and   executing the called adaptation patterns as sub-processes within the adaptive segment.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining an entry to the adaptive segment in the reference workflow comprises detecting a demarcation node that is representative of the start of the adaptive segment. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the decision table comprises at least one column representing the one or more constraints on data context variables and another column representing a corresponding adaptation pattern, wherein the one or more constraints are derived from one or more adaptation rules. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining that at least one of the one or more constraints in the decision table are met comprises determining that one or more of the data-context variables match at least one constraint in the decision table. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the list of selected adaptation patterns further comprises recursively nesting the adaptation patterns as sub-processes within the adaptive segment. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more adaptation patterns are classified into basic adaptation patterns, exception handling patterns, and timed patterns. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the list of selected adaptation patterns as input to a pattern selector comprises providing a list of pattern identifiers of the adaptation patterns to the pattern selector. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more adaptation patterns includes a placeholder for a sub-process in the adaptive segment. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reference workflow represents a regular course of a reference business process. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more adaptation patterns defines a deviation from the reference process for the adaptive segment. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein recursively calling, by the pattern selector, adaptation patterns from the list of adaptation patterns comprises calling the adaptation patterns, which in-turn call the pattern selector, until an end of the list is reached. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more adaptation rules are formulated in an event-condition-action (ECA) format in which, upon detecting an entry to the adaptive segment, if a defined condition is met, then a corresponding adaptation pattern is invoked. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving a request to adopt a new context-specific behavior in the reference workflow during execution; and 
 updating the decision table to include one or more new constraints for adopting the new context-specific behavior. 
 
     
     
         14 . A method of configuring context-dependent adaptive workflow segments, the method comprising:
 identifying at least one segment of a reference workflow as a segment subject to variation during execution;   marking the identified segment as an adaptive segment;   associating one or more workflow adaptation patterns with the adaptive segment, wherein each adaptation pattern of the one or more adaptation patterns includes a placeholder to add a context-specific behavior in the adaptive segment;   formulating one or more adaptation rules defining conditions for selecting an adaptation pattern from the one or more adaptation patterns; and   configuring a pattern selector to recursively call a nested list of adaptation patterns, wherein the nested list is generated based on evaluating the one or more adaptation rules using one or more data context variables associated with the adaptive segment.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein marking the identified segment as adaptive segment comprises demarcating the identified segment as adaptive segment using a distinct node type. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein generating the nested list of adaptation patterns comprises recursively nesting the adaptation patterns as sub-processes within the adaptive segment. 
     
     
         17 . An article of manufacture, comprising:
 a computer readable storage medium having instructions which when executed by a computer causes the computer to:   detect an entry to an adaptive segment in the reference workflow;   invoke a decision table comprising one or more constraints mapped to one or more adaptation patterns;   evaluate the decision table to generate a recursively nested list of adaptation patterns;   recursively call, by a pattern selector, adaptation patterns from the list of adaptation patterns; and   adapt the reference workflow to include the called adaptation patterns as sub-processes within the adaptive segment.   
     
     
         18 . The article of manufacture of  claim 17 , wherein the recursively nested list of adaptation patterns wrap the adaptation patterns around the adaptive segment such that calling an adaptation pattern sub-process by the pattern selector in turn recursively calls the pattern selector until the end of the list is reached. 
     
     
         19 . A system operating in a communication network, comprising:
 a source system; and   a computer comprising a memory to store a program code, an interface, and a processor to execute the program code to:
 detect an entry to an adaptive segment in the reference workflow; 
 invoke data context variables associated with the adaptive segment; 
 invoke a decision table comprising one or more constraints on the data context variables; 
 evaluate the decision table using the one or more data context variables and one or more adaptation rules; 
 generate a list of adaptation patterns based on the evaluation; 
 provide the generated list of adaptation patterns as input to a pattern selector; 
 recursively call, by the pattern selector, adaptation patterns from the list of adaptation patterns; and 
 execute the called adaptation patterns as sub-processes within the adaptive segment. 
   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the system is based on a variant Business process Model and notion vBPMN model.